We've been stalling on our first post of 2016, as we wanted to kick off the year with this bobby-dazzler of a photo-shoot with pet photographer Rachel Oates, taken for the latest issue of Dog Friendly Magazine.

Our setting was Seven Dials, a truly gorgeous area tucked between Covent Garden and Soho – and one of our all time favourite shopping and hangout spots. Dog Friendly asked if we’d be kind enough to visit Bow Wow London, the award-winning dog shop to see what all the fuss was about, as well as sniffing out some of their dog-friendly neighbours.

We first declared our love for online boutique Pup Tart last October and now our love for them has grown deeper with the launch of Pup Tart Handmade, which as the name goes is their own line, handmade!

We’re especially excited by its arrival, not only because it’s written by dogs, for dogs but because our very own Basil Barkarama features as one of the Rover Reporters, sharing his guide to Brentwood, Essex …

We go here, we go there but Basil and I can’t get everywhere, which is why we’ve called on two of our favourite doggy pals - Betty the Jack Russell and her owner Liz of Paws&Purrs – to kick off Barkarama’s new ‘My Dog-Friendly Neighbourhood’ feature.

The duo reside in Hackney, which is a busy borough of London. Now for those living in the sticks, the thought of inner-city dog ownership in a place like Hackney may be an unlikely concept. But actually, according to our pals at Paws&Purrs it’s probably one of the most dog-friendly places in the country! Over to you Betty and Liz for your guide to dog-friendly Hackney ….

Firstly let us wish you a Happy New Year. We hope you had as great a break as we did with our pup Basil, who’s pictured above posing with our joint Christmas haul - bit a of a doggy theme this year as you can see. We’ve only had him for five weeks but it’s hard to imagine life without our little ‘American Gent’. Anyway that's enough gushing for one post, there's a shiny, New Year to address.

We make no secret of loving cake (and you know we love dogs) so when deciding how to best enjoy a free Saturday, afternoon tea sprang to mind. Already regulars at the Covent Garden Hotel, we decided to try another one of Firmdale’s other hotels, and when we found out that the Brumus Bar and Restaurant atThe Haymarket Hotel had a dog influence our decision was made.

Today Phileas Dogg, Britain’s only dog-friendly travel website written by the dogs themselves, are guest writing for Barkarama. Their chief re-pawter Atlee and his editor/owner Jane Common share their favourite dog days out.